What does the Iran-Saudi agreement mean for the region's "security and stability"?
The top diplomats of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and China met in Beijing on Thursday to discuss the "security and stability" of their troubled region.
In a joint statement released following talks between Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the two sides vowed to continue cooperating to strengthen ties.
The two sides stressed the importance of implementing and activating the Beijing Agreement in a way that expands mutual trust, expands cooperation fields, and contributes to the region's security, stability, and prosperity, according to the statement.
Tehran and Riyadh announced a deal in March to repair ties that had been severed seven years earlier when Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions.
In Beijing, Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, and Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union, advocated for an end to the Ukraine conflict at the same time as the ministers.
Iran, which has been at odds with Western governments over its nuclear activities, and Saudi Arabia, the largest oil exporter in the world, could reshape relations across a region that has experienced unrest for decades.
Iran's foreign ministry reported that the two parties "concluded negotiations and exchanged views on resuming official bilateral relations and reopening the embassies and consulates of the two countries."
Al Ekhbariya's Saudi state TV channel showed a video of the two shaking hands, talking, and smiling in front of the Saudi and Iranian flags.
State broadcaster CCTV praised "the first official meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in more than seven years" as well as Beijing's "active mediation" in the diplomatic process.
Following the agreement reached last month, the two nations must implement agreements signed more than 20 years ago and reopen their embassies and missions within two months.
Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties with Iran in January 2016 following protests at its embassies in Tehran and Mashhad over Riyadh's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
After the foreign ministers' meeting, Iran's president is expected to travel to Riyadh.
According to Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on Monday, Raisi accepted the invitation.
This is a test for us
Saudi Arabia and Saudi Arabia support opposing sides in several conflict zones throughout the region, including Yemen, where Riyadh leads a coalition supporting the government and Tehran supports the Huthi rebels.
In addition, both sides compete for influence in Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria.
The traditional ally of Riyadh stated that Iran may not honor its side of the deal despite praising the detente agreement.
China's success in bringing Iran and Saudi Arabia together has challenged the United States' long-standing status as the primary outside power broker in the Middle East.
Beijing's involvement would likely boost confidence in any agreement, an expert told AFP.
Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs Joel Rubin said Saudi Arabia should place more faith in Iran's ability to uphold the agreement because China is a key Iranian ally.
According to Ali Vaez, Director of the Iran Project of the International Crisis Group, the meeting on Thursday shows that the process hasn't deviated from the course since Beijing's announcement last month.
It is still too early to determine whether this is merely a tactical detente or a stop on the way to strategic reconciliation.
Fostering relationships
In Oman and Baghdad, Saudi Arabian and Iranian officials held several rounds of negotiations before their meeting in Beijing.
In 2016, many Gulf nations followed Riyadh's lead and severed diplomatic ties with Tehran. However, they have taken the lead in mending those ties.
After a six-year absence, Iran welcomed an Emirati ambassador in September, and on Wednesday it named its ambassador to the UAE.
In 2017, Iran claimed Kuwait had sent its first envoy to Tehran since 2016.
A reconciliation with Bahrain, another Saudi ally, has also been welcomed by Iran. Bahrain has previously accused Iran of supporting an uprising led by Shiites in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.
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